TURKISH MFA STICKING TO ITS GUNS ON ARMENIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008126 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2012 TAGS: PREL PGOV TU AM AJ SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA STICKING TO ITS GUNS ON ARMENIA (U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (b,d) ¶1. (C) In separate meetings last week with EUR/SE Director Hengel, MFA officials reiterated standard Turkish concerns in relations with Armenia. ¶2. (C) Deputy Director General for the Caucasus and Central Asia Ertan Tezgor told us Turkey will not move to normalize relations with Armenia until Yerevan recognizes current borders. "How can Turkey," he asked, "carry out good neighborly relations when Armenia occupies 20% of Azeri territory?" Director General for Bilateral Political Affairs Ahmet Banguoglu said that the best way for USG to contribute positively to Armenian-Turkish relations would be to "control the Armenian lobby." Tezgor echoed Banguoglu, calling Armenian American behavior on this issue "childish." He also urged USG to "do something;" otherwise Armenia would fall entirely under Russian influence. Banguoglu added that the unresolved situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is a concern to the GOT, but of a lesser order given immediate Turkish interest in border and "lobby" issues. ¶3. (C) Comment: These views reflect an MFA in its default-mode defensiveness, a condition exacerbated by the current, though temporary, uncertainty as to who will be the AK Party's choice for foreign minister in the next government. We have heard Tezgor try to be more imaginative in the past regarding a possible comprehensive Turkey-Armenia-Azerbaijan solution; he may have an incentive to return to this fresher mode of thinking once the new government is in place. End comment. ¶4. (C) EUR/SE Director Hengel did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. PEARSON